Working towards participation
I work in the field of social policy as an academic, consultant, writer and speaker, with a particular focus on disadvantage and diversity. My main concern is to improve the participation of people with disabilities in society and the quality of their lives. I am also interested in improving my understanding of the Asia-Pacific cultural, social and policy responses to disability.
In Australia, people with disabilities continue to be marginalised despite decades of government promises and millions of dollars of funding. I believe the reason for this is the lack of meaningful educational and employment opportunities.
As an academic and consultant, I am guided by the principles of participation and social inclusion to drive the improvement of disability policies and services. As a writer and public speaker, I understand the power of personal stories to stir new ideas into life, influence policy for the better, and create bonds of fresh understanding.
I work at Griffith University as the Senior Lecturer and Convenor of Disability Studies. I also teach in policy and legislation courses, and provide advice on access and social inclusion to a range of agencies.
